Harold surveys the scene of two enemies falling into a pit, another fleeing, the one at the table surrendering without a fight, and the last getting beat up by Bjorn. Making a split-second decision, the half-orc tears after the fleeing bodyguard in case he's going for more help.
Round One - continued
Harold sprints past the group and into the dark passage, chasing after the bodyguard.
Round Two
22 Bodyguards
21 Alexei
20 Bjorn
17 Lucius
14 Korvus
12 Terren
09 Harold
Terren and the bodyguard in the pit begin cursing and attempting to crawl up the sides. They continue screaming in rage as the walls prove too tough to scale.
The guard facing Bjorn pulls back as the ulfen man transforms into a hairy monster. With narrowed eyes and a glance at the pit, he growls then attempts to dodge around Bjorn and flee.
Bjorn's reflexes allow him to attack the bodyguard as he attempts to escape. The Ulfen warrior leaps and bashes the man in the back of the head, causing him to fall face first into the dirt floor. The bodyguard still breathes, but he has been knocked unconscious by Bjorn's attack.
[dice=Bear Punch AoO]1d20 + 11 - 2
[dice=Damage]1d3 + 9 + 4
"Oh, what? You're a bear now? That's new." Lucius will slowly go up to the pit and look down. "You give up yet? I think we win."
Harold catches up with the other guard as one of the half-orc's large hands reaches out to grab the man's shoulder to get him to stop, "Oi! Don't leave da par'y so soon, friend. We 'aven't finished 'avin' a wee chat wiv yaaahr employer an' yaaahrselves activities as ov yet." The sudden contact with the guard and the gravelly voice however causes him to startle and jerk out of Harold's grip, his clothing sliding through the half-orc's fingers, "Come back ter da uvver room under yaaahr own paaahr, 'ave a talk wiv us, an' I promise we won't beat yew senseless as motivashun ter spill all yaaahr secrets."
Round Two - continued
After dropping one guard, Bjorn walks up to the seated one and, despite the man's protests, unleashes a massive slam that knocks the man's head back to slam into the table. Cursing and spitting blood, he glares at the bear-man in front of him before dropping is sword on the ground.
Alexei moves up to watch the two men in the pit.
Lucius walks over to the pit to gloat at the men trapped below.
Korvus moves to the edge of the secret doorway and looks inside, catching a glimpse of Harold as the other half-orc closes with the fleeing bodyguard.
-----
From the secret tunnel, the bodyguard who fled suddenly appears, weakly struggling in the grip of Harold as the half-orc forces the man out of the darkness of the passage back into the room. Harold tigthens his hand around the back of the man's neck as he grins at his friends, "Guess who tried ter pull a fast one on us an' slip aaaht while we was busy wiv 'is lackies." The half-orc releases the guard's arm to reach up and rip off something on the man's head which shifts into a strange hat as the guard in front of Harold transforms into Terren, "Thought yew could sneak away, did you? Well now yer in fer it. Thee've probably made me Ulfen friend awfully mad..." It is then that Harold notices that Bjorn is possessed of a furry disposition. He leans over and whispers to Korvus, "When did we get a bear?"
"Nice trick." Lucius walks away from the pit and up to the man revealed to be Terren. He takes the hat and puts it on his head. "So you're gonna tell us the truth now right?"
Harold notices that Bjorn is possessed of a furry disposition. He leans over and whispers to Korvus, "When did we get a bear?"
"It seems the bear was always with us," Korvus softly replies to Harold's question, studying Bjorn's ursine form with fascination. "If I were to hazard a guess, I would say that one or quite possibly more of Master Stonehand's forebears were shapeshifters of some sort. He appears to possess the gift as well. But I wonder at his ability to control it..."
"Oh, and well done with the capture, by the way," Korvus adds in his normal tone of voice. "I am curious to learn just what Master Vorn is up to here."
Terren's face is etched with fear, both at being restrained by the no-so-gentle grip of Harold.
He stares at Lucius, then at Korvus, but nearly loses his mind when he looks at Bjorn. Through the blubbering, he manages to speak, "I just heard about the graves.. I'm not a graverobb...robber! It was Mr. Rook and Mr. Suss. They...they were talking about the Beast when he was caught. Said something about him being found guilty of murder and defiling graves! I just heard it... from them! Please, that's all I know!"
"You never told us your mother was a she-bear, Bjorn. I mean I assumed so, but you never confirmed it. Until now anyway.." Lucius says before turning to Terren.
"What he said, where can we find Mr. Rook and Mr. Suss?"
"Just some merchants in town. I'm not exactly sure what they do, but I know Mr. Rook makes fine instruments the chirurgeons use at the University. Mr. Suss is his business partner. I think. Kind of a strange one, Mr. Suss. Always looks like he's sick. His skin is all gray and ashen."
"I know Mr. Rook has a store in town, but I don't know the name or where it's located. Probably close to the school if I had to guess."
"Are you going to let me live? I mean, I'm being a good prisoner, right? Please, I beg you, I'll leave town tonight and won't come back for a month, or two months."
He nods quickly, "Fine, fine! Whatever you say! Just let me go!"
"He's just saying whatever he thinks we want to hear. Don't let him go."
At that moment, the spell effect ends and the false Terren and his bodyguard reappear exactly where they were. At the real Terren's signal, however, they sheath their weapons and step back, indicating their surrender.
Terren nods and glumly looks at Lucius, "Um, my hat?" Seeing the look on everyone's face, he grimaces, then turns back toward the tunnel ending at the shop.
"Perhaps Masters Rook and Suss will know something about the fine surgical tools we found at the burial ground in Morast," Korvus muses aloud. "I suggest we visit the University tomorrow after the court proceedings to inquire as to location of their business establishment."
"But for now, we should do our best to avoid the constabulary and return to our rooms at the inn."
Harold lets go of the little man but gives him a long scowl as he heads out, "May be best ter pack yaaahr fngs an' find a be'er stompin' ground in anuvver city. Or nashun. Or yew know what, lets say a continent. Cause if we catch sight ov yew stirrin' up mawer trouble anywhere we go, you'll live ter regret it. All ov da five minutes i' takes yaaahr body ter stop twitchin' then brearfing. We understand one anuvver?" The half-orc keeps an eye on Terren and his guards until they are long gone. He agrees with the plan to return to the inn, it had been a long day, "And I could really use a stop by da local church ov 'er Ladyship. Those wispy spiri' bastards earlier really did a number on me."
Alexei nods, putting his weapon away. "Not that anyone could tell," he remarks wryly, a smirk on his face as he ribs Harold.
You manage to avoid the more inquisitive Watch members as you make your way back to the Inn. Luckily, most of the guards who saw you were happy to leave you alone once you mentioned where you were staying. It's obvious the guards aren't looking for trouble, just trying to prevent any more tonight.
The night passes uneventfully, and the city is relatively quiet. The only significant noise is that of hooves on the stone streets as mounted guards patrol the city. After the chaos of the mob, you aren't surprised to hear them moving around.
Morning arrives and the scent of baking bread and hot sausage assault your senses. The cooks have been at work for hours, and they are serving large bowls of hot porridge with a generous hunk of pork and fresh biscuits. A variety of juices and meads are poured and you're soon enjoying a hearty breakfast. After the madness of the prior evening, this meal is exactly what you need to restore you vitality.
After scraping his bowl clean a few times in a row, Harold pats his full stomach and stands ready to face the day. When they head out to search for leads to this Mr. Rook and Suss, the half-orc keeps an eye out for any fishy characters watching them. A few minutes pass as Korvus, Alexei, and Lucius ask around after the elusive duo before Harold chimes in, "Terren said they sold an' allls ter da Universi'y an' 'ad a shop probably close ter there. Thee fnk we should ask some ov da staff at da school was they purchase their instrumun's?"
Unfortunately, your efforts don't reveal anything specific in the time you have before you need to be at the Courthouse. You do narrow the search down to a street near the university - many of the stores cater to the professors and researchers who work there.
-----
The Courthouse is under heavy guard, with several mounted soldiers, and at least a hundred forming a cordon around the building. Outside the line of soldiers, dozens of protestors carry signs and chant slogans. It appears that the mob from last night has reformed in smaller, and more civilized, numbers.
As you approach, one of the Courthouse bailiffs waves you through, speaking quickly to one of the soldiers. A number of the protestors begin shouting, asking why you're getting "special treatment". Ignoring them, you move past the soldiers and into the large brick building. Bailiffs line the halls, directing people toward the courtroom. It appears that some individuals have managed to secure a seat at today's proceedings - the Beast is going to have an audience.
You are ushered into a large room outside the main courtroom. Barrister Kaple is inside, boxes of papers and files on several tables. He looks up, "Ah, you've made it. Good, I was getting worried. We have a few minutes before we have to be inside. Have you managed to discover anything we can use today?"
Kaple draws a sharp breath when you unveil Redjaw's head... his huge tongue lolling out to the side presents a suitably grotesque addition.
Catching himself, Gustav takes a step closer and peers at the monster's mouth, even reaching out to touch the teeth. Nodding, he softly says, "Yes, yes... yes! This is something we can use."
He stands up and looks at the rest of you, "Excellent work, this is precisely the kind of hard evidence that we need. And the way you revealed it - perfect! That is the kind of surprise twist that we need."
"Were you able to speak with Elder Lazne? Did you discover anything else we can use to cast doubt on his testimony?"
"Well Lazne said that they never found the bodies of the people that Alpy supposedly killed." Lucius will take out the stuff they found, mainly the alchemist's equipment and eventually the creepy human mask.
Kaple looks at the items Lucius pulls out, and grimaces in disgust at the mask. "I've seen some twisted things in my line of work, but that's just sick."
He sighs as he looks over everything, "Well, it certainly proves that something was going on out there, but it doesn't quite clear our client. At least we know there is a mystery to solve though - earlier we didn't have any leads at all. Great work."
Bjorn speaks and Gustav thinks for a minute...
"You know, that raven does remind me of something... There is a small shop on Anatomists' Alley. That's where most of the scientists and doctors go to get their tools. Now, the name of the shop. The name of the shop. Ummmm, let me think."
He ponders a minute before loudly snapping his fingers (obviously a talent honed in his decades of courtroom drama), "Ah-ha! Zbraslav Hora and Sons. Been in business for a long time, has a solid, if unremarkable, reputation."
Korvus nods in agreement with Bjorn, hurriedly noting the names 'Zbraslav Hora and Sons' and 'Anatomists' Alley' in his journal.
Consulting his notes, Korvus relays to Kaple the party's conversations with Elder Lazne, as well as their observations regarding the Morast Boneyard and the items found there as Lucius retrieves the items from his pack for the barrister's inspection.
"The Beast started coming into the village and taking lone villagers, but it soon became braver - or more foolish. It started breaking into our houses and attacking people inside their homes! We all got together and set a trap for it. Outside 'ole Pull's house we dug a big pit then covered it up. Worked like a fat worm on a small hook!"
"The monster fell in and we tossed in some nets. But it was tough to catch. Before we knew what happened, it used some of the nets to climb out. Huge and made of flesh that looked like it was all stitched up! Started fleeing toward the swamp. Well, I tell you, we got our boats out and started following it once it reached the water. It headed over toward the old Boneyard - the island where we used to bury our kin. But boy, right as that monster reached land, Redjaw got him."
"Redjaw is a blood caiman that's lived around here since I was a boy. That thing must be sixty if it's a day! Got a patch of red scales around his mouth, and mean as a devil that ate some bad chili. Anyhow, I was in the lead boat, and I saw Redjaw leap out of the water when the Beast reached the Boneyard. Got a good grip on his shoulder too. That monster started cursing and swearing like he was a sailor who missed his ship. But Redjaw is a tough one, and he dragged the Beast under. We all figured the caiman got him, so we headed back to town."
"I'll tell you, it's been over a year since we lost our neighbors, and we found the places they were killed, but never their bodies. And we looked too, don't you doubt it. Even had some men from Lepidstadt out here to help. But we never found any sign of their bodies. So we've done our best to move on since then, and you won't find much if you go looking for them, only thing that would happen is people would get upset all over again about their missing friends and relatives."
Upon seeing the items retrieved from the Boneyard and hearing the description of conditions found there: "I don't have any idea how those things got there, or whose they are. We just used to bury our dead out there, had a priest from the city to consecrate the ground and everything! The thought that some crazy person would have all this stuff out there, digging up bodies... and what if he was using them for something?! He cut off that man's face and used it as a mask! That's just not something that happens out here - most of us in town are kin. We get angry and fight sometimes, but nobody here would ever stoop to something like this! Especially not using the Boneyard."
Lucius strikes out toward the southern end of the island and comes across what appears to be an old location for a fire. Scorched twigs are visible amidst a small pile of ashes. Looking around, he finds a leather sack by a large tree that contains a half-full waterskin, the aged remnants of trail rations, and a empty vial with green residue on the bottom. Korvus identifies the residue as the remains of an alchemist's extract granting the ability to see in the dark.
Nearby, Alexei notices a small one-person boat hidden beneath some broken tree limbs and reeds. From the condition of the boat, it's obvious that it has been outside in the weather for several months, if not longer. A bag under the seat contains a damp artisan's outfit, and an leathery mask. Alexei draws a sharp breath as he turns the mask over, realizing it is not made from leather - it is actually a detached human face cured and treated so it could be worn by another person.
Bjorn joins him and spots a rope tied off at the boat that leads down into the water. Testing the line, he pulls against the rope and feels a weight at the bottom. Straining, he continues to pull on the rope, eventually revealing a waterproof sack that had been submerged in the swamp. Opening the bag, he finds some rope, a gag, a rusted lantern, several large carving knives, and a rusted shovel. As he looks through everything, he also notices that the inside of the sack, as well as the rope, gags, and knives all contain stains that appear to be dried blood.
Korvus moves around the Boneyard, taking in everything his companions have found. Maximus whistles sharply to get his attention, pulling Korvus toward a cluster of bushes. Underneath, he spots a tarnished wooden box. Reaching down, he pulls it out to find the top of the box covered with silver and amethysts. Inside the box is a set of exquisite surgical tools in pristine condition. On each of the tools, a small raven has been engraved near the end of the handle.
"As I stated to Elder Lazne, I am concerned these items are likely linked to the disappearances attributed to The Beast," Korvus says to Kaple as the barrister studies the items and Korvus' notes. "The campsite on the island where these items were found was abandoned some time ago - possibly a year or more, I'd wager - and in a bit of a hurry by the state of things. It is not inconceivable that someone who could use a flesh mask to disguise themselves as someone else could also disguise themselves in a form similar to The Beast to divert suspicion and blame."
Gustav nods at Korvus' suggestions, "Makes sense to me, but since we don't have any evidence to prove that, it won't do much good in court. I'm thinking we keep all the things you've discovered - except the caiman head - until we know who used them and for what purpose. If we bring out evidence too soon, the prosecution can try to suppress it. We don't want to let them ruin our surprises." he says with a devious grin and a wink.